ARS | Publication request: Cultural Practices Affect Fruit Quality and Antioxident Capacity in Blueberries

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 25, 2007
Publication Date: July 16, 2007
Citation: Wang, S.Y., Chen, C., Sciarappa, W., Wang, C.Y. 2007. Cultural Practices Affect Fruit Quality and Antioxident Capacity in Blueberries. HortScience; 42(4):958

Technical Abstract: The effect of cultural practices on fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in highbush blueberries var. Bluecrop was evaluated from random samples of commercial late harvest fields in New Jersey. Results from this single season survey showed that blueberry fruit grown from organic culture yielded higher sugars (fructose and glucose), total phenol, total anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity (ORAC) than fruit from the conventional culture. In organic cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, anthocyanin, and total phenol content were 42.7 'mol Trolox/g FW, 109.3 mg/100g FW, and 286.7 mg/ 100g FW, respectively. In conventional cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, anthocyanin, and total phenol content were 37.1 'mol of Trolox/g FW, 95.5 mg/100g FW, and 236.8 mg/100g FW, respectively. The organic culture also produced fruit with high flavonoid content (myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-galactoside, petunidin 3-galactoside and petunidin 3- glucoside). There is a correlation between the ORAC values and total phenolics and total anthocyanins. The results indicate that blueberries produced from organic culture contain significantly higher amounts of phytonutrients than those produced from conventional culture. Thus, such differences may provide a higher benefit to human health.